Golf ball

ABSTRACT

A golf ball has a core, a conductive paint layer coated on the surface of the core, a reflective layer formed by electroplating a bright thin surface metal layer on the conductive paint layer and a transparent layer formed on the reflective layer. When the golf ball is hit, the light projection to the golf ball is reflected by the reflective layer to look more brilliant. The reflective layer is protected by the transparent layer without damaging after the golf ball is hit. It also makes discerning of the flying distance and dropping location of the golf ball easier.

This application is a continuation-in-part, and claims priority, of fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/529,526 filed on Sep. 29, 2006,entitled “GOLF BALL”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes a golf ball that has a core, aconductive paint layer coated on the surface of the core, a brightsurface metal thin reflective layer electroplated on the conductivepaint layer and an outmost protective transparent layer to facilitatediscerning of flying distance and dropping location of the golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Golf became an increasingly popular sport in recent years affordable formany people. Many golf courses have been constructed and are accessibleby the general public. Golf equipment such as golf clubs and golf ballsare also widely available on the domestic and international markets.Competition between those products is intense. Developing products withunique features is an important factor in gaining a competitive edge inthe market place.

The traditional white golf ball A (referring to FIG. 1) has a ball bodyA1 coated with an opaque white layer A2 on the surface to facilitatediscerning the flying location of the golf ball. The white layer A2 doesnot provide a desirable reflective effect and is prone to damage by thestriking of golf clubs and becomes darker. This makes discerning theflying distance and dropping location of the hit golf ball difficult.U.S. Pat. No. 6,949,595 B2 (referring to FIG. 2) provides a golf ball Bwith a core B1, a middle layer B2 with color surrounding the core B1 anda transparent layer B3 surrounding the middle layer B2. Through thetransparent layer B3, the colored middle layer B2 can be seen. Themiddle layer B2 is colored during production to give the golf ball B adifferent color. However, the color variation of the golf ball Bprovides merely aesthetic appeal without offering much help in terms ofobserving its flying location after hitting. It is even less effectivethan the traditional white golf ball A in this respect. Although aluster-enhancing agent may be added to the middle layer B2 of the golfball B previously discussed, it merely makes the color of the middlelayer B2 more brilliant, but does not improve the reflective effect verymuch. Hence, it also does not help much in tracking the flying location.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,378 (referring to FIG. 3A) provides a golf ball Cwhich has a surface layer C1 containing reflective particles C2 in arandom distribution or fully distributed manner (also referring to FIGS.3B and 3C). The reflective particles C2 can reflect light to give theflying golf ball C a stronger light reflective effect to make observingthe flying location easier. However, the reflective surface C21 of thereflective particles C2 located on the surface layer C1 is not totallyin parallel with the ball surface C11. Hence, the light reflectiveeffect is not optimal. Moreover, when the ball surface C11 is damaged byheavy striking or dropping after a period of time, the reflectiveparticles C2 located inside the surface layer C1 also suffer damageresulting from the damaged ball surface C11. Hence it still has room forimprovement in terms of enhancing light reflective effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to overcome the aforesaid problems of theconventional golf balls by providing a golf ball that has a core, aconductive paint layer coating on the surface of the core, a brightsurface thin metal reflective layer electroplated on the conductivepaint layer and an outmost protective transparent layer to facilitatediscerning of flying distance and dropping location of the golf ball.

To achieve the foregoing object, the invention provides an improved golfball that has a core, a conductive paint layer, a reflective layer and atransparent layer. The conductive paint layer is coated on the surfaceof the core. The reflective layer is a thin, bright, surface metal layerelectroplated on the conductive paint layer. The transparent layer isformed on the reflective layer to protect the reflective layer.

The golf ball thus formed provides many benefits, notably:

The reflective layer is a bright thin surface metal layer electroplatedon the conductive paint layer. It is parallel to the spherical surfaceof the outmost transparent layer to provide a more effective reflectiveresult. Upon receiving the light projection, the reflective layer looksbrighter. With the reflective layer covered by the transparent layer,the reflective layer is protected from damage while the golf ball ishit. Thus flying distance and dropping location of the golf ball can bediscerned easier.

The foregoing, as well as additional features and advantages of theinvention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional golf ball.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the golf ball disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,949,595 B2.

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the golf ball disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,427,378.

FIG. 3B is a partial enlarged sectional view according to FIG. 3Ashowing reflective particles distributed randomly.

FIG. 3C is a partial enlarged sectional view according to FIG. 3Ashowing reflective particles fully distributed over the surface.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the golf ball of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the golf ball according to FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the core accordingto FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of yet another embodiment of the coreaccording to FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the golf ball according to FIG. 4 afterhit.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the transparentlayer.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the golf ball ofthe invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the golf ballof the invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of still another embodiment of the golf ballof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 4 and 5, the golf ball 10 according to theinvention includes:

a core 20 usually made from rubber or plastic material;

a conductive paint layer 30 coated on the surface of the core 20;

a reflective layer 40 formed by electroplating. As the core 20 isnon-conductive, the reflective layer 40 cannot be directly electroplatedthereon, the conductive paint layer 30 has to be coated on the surfaceof the core 20 first. After the electroplating is finished, a brightthin surface metal layer is formed to become the reflective layer 40with mirror effect. The reflective layer 40 is formed at a thinthickness between 1-30 μm. As the reflective layer 40 is a metal layer,it cannot be formed at a greater thickness; otherwise the golf ball 10cannot return to its original shape after hit. The returning force ofthe core 20 cannot restore the deformed reflective layer 40 after thegolf ball 10 is hit. Hence the reflective layer 40 has to be thinner toallow the golf ball 10 to return to its original spherical shape(referring to FIG. 8); and

a transparent layer 50 formed on the reflective layer 40 to protect thereflective layer 40 from damage when hit. The outmost layer of thetransparent layer 50 is a spherical surface 51 parallel with thereflective layer 40. When light passes through the transparent layer 50and reaches the reflective layer 40, the light is reflected through thetransparent layer 50 to provide an optimal reflective effect tofacilitate discerning of the flying distance and dropping location ofthe golf ball 10.

The metal used for electroplating to form the bright surface metal thinlayer can be selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel,chromium, tin, zinc, cadmium, lead, gold, platinum, silver, cobalt,manganese, antimony, bismuth, mercury, gallium, indium, thallium,polonium, iridium, rhenium, rhodium, osmium, tungsten, lithium, sodium,potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum,titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, lanthanum and germanium; or can be analloy selected from the group consisting of copper-tin (bronze),copper-zinc (brass), tin-lead, copper-cadmium, tin-lead-antimony,tin-lead-zinc, nickel-tin, nickel-cobalt and gold alloys.

In addition, the core 20 of the golf ball 10 may also include atraditional core as shown in FIG. 6, in which the golf ball 10 a has acore 20 a with a center 21 a formed therein. The center 21 a issurrounded by a covering layer 22 a. The center 21 a and the coveringlayer 22 a may be made from rubber. The center 21 a is harder than thecovering layer 22 a. Referring to FIG. 7, the golf ball 10 b has anothercore 20 b including a center 21 b surrounded by a wire winding layer 22b formed by winding a wire. The center 21 b and the wire winding layer22 b may be made from rubber with the center 21 b harder than the wirewinding layer 22 b.

Referring to FIG. 9, the transparent layer 50 of the golf ball 10contains fluorescent powders 51. When the golf ball 10 is flying, thelight projection makes the reflective layer 40 and the transparent layer50 contained the fluorescent powders 51 to generate a brilliantreflection.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the golf ball 10 c. Itincludes:

a core 20 c;

a conductive paint layer 30 c coated on the surface of the core 20 c;

a reflective layer 40 c formed by electroplating a bright thin surfacemetal layer on the conductive paint layer 30 c at a thickness between1-30 μm;

a colored and transparent paint layer 41 c coated on the reflectivelayer 40 c to maintain the reflective effect of the reflective layer 40c and provide different colors for the golf ball 10 c; and a transparentlayer 50 c formed on the colored and transparent paint layer 41 c. Thetransparent layer 50 c may contain fluorescent powders (not shown in thedrawings).

FIG. 11 illustrates yet another embodiment of the golf ball 10 d. Itincludes:

a core 20 d;

a conductive paint layer 30 d coated on the surface of the core 20 d;

a reflective layer 40 d formed on the conductive paint layer 30 d. Thereflective layer 40 d may be formed with a pattern or text. Duringelectroplating, a desired pattern may be masked on the conductive paintlayer 30 d to block electroplating while the unmasked portion iselectroplated to form the patterned reflective layer 40 d. After theelectroplating is finished, the masked pattern is removed; and

a transparent layer 50 d coated on the reflective layer 40 d and theconductive paint layer 30 d. When the golf ball 10 d is hit and turnsquickly, light projects through the transparent layer 50 d to thereflective layer 40 d and is reflected, while the light projects to theconductive paint layer 30 d is not reflected. Thus a lighted and darkblinking effect is generated. The transparent layer 50 d may alsocontain fluorescent powders (not shown in the drawings).

FIG. 12 illustrates still another embodiment of the golf ball 10 e. Itincludes:

a core 20 e;

a conductive paint layer 30 e coated on the surface of the core 20 e;

a reflective layer 40 e formed by electroplating locally on theconductive paint layer 30 e with a desired pattern or text;

a colored and transparent paint layer 41 e coated concurrently on thereflective layer 40 e and the conductive paint layer 30 e; and

a transparent layer 50 e formed on the colored and transparent paintlayer 41 e. The transparent layer 50 e may also contain fluorescentpowders (not shown in the drawings).

Thus, the golf ball 10 of the invention, with the surface of the core 20coated with a conductive paint layer 30 which is electroplated with areflective layer 40 of a bright thin surface metal layer and an outmosttransparent layer 40 to protect the reflective layer 40, provides anoptimal light reflective effect to give the golf ball 10 a greatervisual appeal. It also aids striking of the golf ball 10 and makesdiscerning of the flying distance and dropping location easier.

1. A golf ball, comprising: a core; a conductive paint layer coated onthe surface of the core; a reflective layer formed by electroplating abright thin surface metal layer on the conductive paint layer; and atransparent layer coated on the reflective layer to protect thereflective layer.
 2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the core is madefrom rubber or plastic material.
 3. The golf ball of claim 1, whereinthe reflective layer is formed at a thickness between 1 and 30 μm. 4.The golf ball of claim 3, wherein the electroplated thin metal layer toform the reflective layer is selected from the group consisting ofcopper, nickel, chromium, tin, zinc, cadmium, lead, gold, platinum,silver, cobalt, manganese, antimony, bismuth, mercury, gallium, indium,thallium, polonium, iridium, rhenium, rhodium, osmium, tungsten,lithium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium,barium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, lanthanum andgermanium; or is an alloy selected from the group consisting ofcopper-tin, copper-zinc, tin-lead, copper-cadmium, tin-lead-antimony,tin-lead-zinc, nickel-tin, nickel-cobalt and gold alloys.
 5. The golfball of claim 1, wherein the reflective layer and an outmost sphericalsurface of the transparent layer are parallel.
 6. The golf ball of claim1, wherein the transparent layer contains fluorescent powders.
 7. A golfball, comprising: a core; a conductive paint layer coated on the surfaceof the core; a reflective layer formed by electroplating a bright thinsurface metal layer on the conductive paint layer; a colored andtransparent paint layer coated on the reflective layer; and atransparent layer coated on the colored and transparent paint layer. 8.The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the core is made from rubber orplastic material.
 9. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the reflectivelayer is formed at a thickness between 1 and 30 μm.
 10. The golf ball ofclaim 9, wherein the electroplated thin metal layer to form thereflective layer is selected from the group consisting of copper,nickel, chromium, tin, zinc, cadmium, lead, gold, platinum, silver,cobalt, manganese, antimony, bismuth, mercury, gallium, indium,thallium, polonium, iridium, rhenium, rhodium, osmium, tungsten,lithium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium,barium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, lanthanum andgermanium; or is an alloy selected from the group consisting ofcopper-tin, copper-zinc, tin-lead, copper-cadmium, tin-lead-antimony,tin-lead-zinc, nickel-tin, nickel-cobalt and gold alloys.
 11. The golfball of claim 7, wherein the reflective layer and an outmost sphericalsurface of the transparent layer are parallel.
 12. The golf ball ofclaim 7, wherein the transparent layer contains fluorescent powders. 13.A golf ball, comprising: a core; a conductive paint layer coated on thesurface of the core; a reflective layer formed by electroplating abright thin surface metal layer on the conductive paint layer to form aselected pattern or text; and a transparent layer coated concurrently onthe reflective layer and the conductive paint layer.
 14. The golf ballof claim 13, wherein the core is made from rubber or plastic material.15. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the reflective layer is formed ata thickness between 1 and 30 μm.
 16. The golf ball of claim 15, whereinthe electroplated thin metal layer to form the reflective layer isselected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, chromium, tin,zinc, cadmium, lead, gold, platinum, silver, cobalt, manganese,antimony, bismuth, mercury, gallium, indium, thallium, polonium,iridium, rhenium, rhodium, osmium, tungsten, lithium, sodium, potassium,beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, aluminum, titanium,zirconium, molybdenum, lanthanum and germanium; or is an alloy selectedfrom the group consisting of copper-tin, copper-zinc, tin-lead,copper-cadmium, tin-lead-antimony, tin-lead-zinc, nickel-tin,nickel-cobalt and gold alloys.
 17. The golf ball of claim 13, whereinthe reflective layer and an outmost spherical surface of the transparentlayer are parallel.
 18. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein thetransparent layer contains fluorescent powders.
 19. A golf ball,comprising: a core; a conductive paint layer coated on the surface ofthe core; a reflective layer formed by electroplating a bright thinsurface metal layer on the conductive paint layer to form a selectedpattern or text; a colored and transparent paint layer coatedconcurrently on the reflective layer and the conductive paint layer; anda transparent layer coated on the colored and transparent paint layer.20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the core is made from rubber orplastic material.
 21. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein the reflectivelayer is formed at a thickness between 1 and 30 μm.
 22. The golf ball ofclaim 21, wherein the electroplated thin metal layer to form thereflective layer is selected from the group consisting of copper,nickel, chromium, tin, zinc, cadmium, lead, gold, platinum, silver,cobalt, manganese, antimony, bismuth, mercury, gallium, indium,thallium, polonium, iridium, rhenium, rhodium, osmium, tungsten,lithium, sodium, potassium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium,barium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, molybdenum, lanthanum andgermanium; or is an alloy selected from the group consisting ofcopper-tin, copper-zinc, tin-lead, copper-cadmium, tin-lead-antimony,tin-lead-zinc, nickel-tin, nickel-cobalt and gold alloys.
 23. The golfball of claim 19, wherein the reflective layer and an outmost sphericalsurface of the transparent layer are parallel.
 24. The golf ball ofclaim 19, wherein the transparent layer contains fluorescent powders.